In a shocking turn of events, WWE superstar Bobby Lashley has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming King of the Ring tournament due to an injury sustained during training. The news was announced by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who revealed that Angelo Dawkins would be taking Lashley’s place in the first-round qualifier match against Tama Tonga.
While the exact nature of Lashley’s injury remains unclear, WWE officials have confirmed that he is not medically cleared to compete in the upcoming episode of SmackDown. The promotion is taking a cautious approach, evaluating the situation before providing further details about the injury.
This news comes as a disappointment to fans who were eagerly anticipating Lashley’s participation in the tournament. However, it’s worth noting that WWE superstars have competed despite being injured in the past. Drew McIntyre, for instance, has been making regular appearances on Monday Night RAW despite nursing a hyperextended elbow injury.
It’s possible that Lashley could still make an appearance on the upcoming episode of SmackDown, depending on the severity of his injury. Alternatively, WWE could choose to run a backstage angle where Lashley is attacked, thereby sidelining him from competition. This would allow the promotion to write him off television if the injury requires immediate surgery.
Fortunately, the prognosis doesn’t seem to be too dire, and it’s likely that Lashley won’t be away from television for long. He could potentially return as soon as the following episode of SmackDown next week.
Fans will have to tune in to the upcoming episode of SmackDown to see how the situation unfolds. In the meantime, Angelo Dawkins will step into the ring against Tama Tonga, looking to make a statement in the King of the Ring tournament.
